Former long-time Skagway resident Carol Ann Nelson, 70, passed away peacefully among friends and family at Denali Center in Fairbanks on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007, after a long painful battle with a rare Parkinson related syndrome, Cortical-Basal Ganglionic Degeneration.
The youngest of four, Carol was born in Munising, Mich., Oct. 9, 1936, to Lawrence and Viola LaMont. Carols family moved when she was 9 years old to Shelton, Wash., where she grew up, married and had her children.
An Alaska resident for 43 years, Carol moved to Skagway in 1964. Carol helped her husband Wes operate a hunting camp by cooking, packing horses, and processing meat. Right up to the last few years of her life, Carol continued to raise farm animals; chickens, pigs, cattle and horses. Some years Carol was milking 10 to 12 cows and wrangling 30 head of horses. Carol worked as a dispatcher for LAB Flying Service for 20 years. She also cooked for the community Senior Citizens luncheon each week for many years.
Carol loved her dogs, the outdoors, and animals. Carol is well known for being a hard worker and never complaining. She was an excellent cook and always had a smile and a kind word. Her coffee pot was always full and her door open to anyone who wanted endless cups of coffee and to shoot the breeze. She could even give you a hair cut while you visited!
Carol was preceded in death by her husband Wes Nelson; grandson George Thiel; and parents Lawrence and Viola LaMont.
Carol is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Linda and John Sims of Fairbanks; son and daughter-in-law Lee and Carol Nelson of Skagway; son and daughter-in-law Jay and Shannon Nelson of Wasilla; son Joe Nelson and Allison Heater of Billings, Mont.; Kolin and Cari ODaniel of Fairbanks; brother, Kenneth LaMont of Joppa Island, Md.; brother Clayton LaMont, and sister Patricia Petty of Shelton, Wash.; grandchildren, Sally Kortus, Becky Hunnicutt, Joshua Sims, Jacob Sims, Wyatt Nelson, Kariel Young, Westin Nelson, Kohl Nelson, Lea Mauldin, Kirsten and Connor ODaniel; and great-grandchildren, Amanda, Zachary, Benjamin, Daniel, Kristlyn, Ashley, Shane, Marrissa, and Cheyenne.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Denali Center, 1510 19th Ave., Fairbanks, AK 99701. No service is planned at this time.